Bravo Shoes Uganda could be known for making shoes, especially for girls and boys of the school-going age, little did they know that one day, a little soul will spiritually connect with the brand.
A photo of a 9- year- old became viral on social media recently, clad in an oversize blue shirt and navy blue shorts admiring a fellow age mate on the banner attached to the Bravo Shoes van, smart in a school uniform, a pair of stockings, and fancy shoes, this captured Bwire’s curiosity and attention little did he know that someone was watching.
They say that a picture speaks a thousand words; the barefooted Bwire, who was a student of Walyembwa Primary School, Bumahna Sub-county, Luuka District in Eastern Uganda, stays with his 76-year-old grandmother Ruth Tebaryala.
At Walyembwa P. S, on random day pick, you find over 70% of the close to 1,000 students there, barefooted, perhaps their parents could not afford to buy them shoes or it is not such a big issue.
The Life-Changing Shot
Solomon Kitaka, a photographer who took Elvis Bwire’s life–changing-photo narrates what triggered him to take Bwire’s photos who was staring at the car which was parked and he was standing admiring the pictures on the van.
“He was looking at the boy who was putting these shoes and smart in his uniform and this boy (BWIRE) was barefooted, he was putting on a dirty old uniform so he was trying to admire a fellow boy picture on the van. Our activities were going on, Bravo Shoes was doing the community social responsibility and as I was standing around to capture different events, I saw this boy admiring this picture so I was so touched and decided to take a picture of him,” narrates Kitaka
According to Kitaka, he didn’t know that Bwire’s photo would go viral and it would change his life.
“Am so glad, I feel so happy! I feel a lot of satisfaction that that picture was able to change this boy’s life,” he expressed.
It was his curiosity that drove him from a crowd of other pupils to come close to the packed van! He didn’t mind whether barefooted or not. He got up with the subconsciousness that made him luckier! He was Lucky that in his lost fear he went close to the van and see how the cameraman accelerated his luck!
He still needed someone to bring him to the limelight! There comes the City Centre complex Shoe Merchant Bravo Shoes Uganda.
It has always been urged that luck is sudden, unexpected, and indefinable. But from the Story of Elvis Bwire, luck isn’t such kind of magic! It’s his attitude and curiosity.
As of today, Bwire was awarded a full bursary to complete Primary Section by one of the associates of Bravo Shoes Community Support. At Namuwaya Education Centre and his scholarship from Bravo Shoes Community Support runs until he reaches the level of the university.
Before Bwire could bid an emotional farewell to his fellow schoolmates, the mood at school was cold, you could clearly see the sadness in the eyes of other students. Many if not the majority were in a similar situation to Elvis Bwire.
Bwire could fast get out of the car, probably aware of what is next in his new journey of life but her grandmother delayed probably reminiscing how she was going to miss her naught grandson she has raised from babyhood. He majestically came out like a king clad in his new uniform and a “PERFECT” pair of the shoes he admired in the picture.
In the company of the Walyembwa Primary School Headmaster and the Bravo Shoes Community Support founder, Bwire looked emotional and composed, he has to say goodbye to those he has grown up with and head to Kampala hundreds of miles away from those he knew better.
“Good morning everybody, good morning everyone, I take this opportunity to introduce to you our visitors who have come here for the fourth time. They’re here to empower us, they have given us books, and shoes but most of all, they have identified a student they are going to help! He has been your fellow student in Primary two. The chance has caught him and he will be studying in one of the schools in Kampala,” said Charles Maganda the HM.
Maganda added that the spirit shown by Bravo Shoes Community Support has inspired many parents and students to continue having hope in education and the projects that the school will attract many other students lagging back home to rejoin school with a lot of expectations from Bravo.
When given the opportunity to speak, the emotional Bwire said that he is on a mission to go and study in Kampala, “I have gone to study, never think I have gone to play. I am so grateful for this opportunity that God has made. God is so great am going to study in Kampala schools, Namuwaya Education Centre,” he said.
Grand mum’s faded Hope
Ruth Tibryala with 5 grandchildren had lost hope following the outbreak of the pandemic, however, Bwire’s grandmother was reading life on a different script and when the news came about her grandson acquiring a scholarship, she was overwhelmed by excitement.
“She thought it was the end of life since the country was grappling with the Covid19 pandemic and her grandson would not make it since the schools were closed,” said one of the friends close to the family.